In the city of New Rome, architect Cesar Catalina (Adam Driver) has invented Megalon, a new bio-adaptive building material that he plans to use to build a utopian city he calls ‘Megalopolis’. However, the mayor of New Rome, Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), opposes Cesar’s ambitions despite his daughter Julia (Nathalie Emmanuel) falling in love with Cesar. Meanwhile, Cesar’s ex-girlfriend Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza) and his jealous cousin Clodio (Shia LaBoeuf) plan their own takeovers of the city’s wealth and power.

Coppola has created a unique work of art that many would disagree with, beginning with its ‘Chosen One’ narrative that resembles Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead in its suggestion that Cesar should be allowed to achieve his aim are creating his megalopolis unrestrained, and including its total shifts from quoting philosophers in dialogue one minute to Wow getting an increasingly turned-on Clodio to go down on her. In addition Cicero’s treatment following a sex scandal and discussions about artists behaving badly will not endear the film to those who despise the idea of ‘cancel culture’ as a real threat to protect problematic artists from.

The stylistic and narrative choices will no doubt be divisive, but at least Coppola is doing something different as he has done throughout his long and varied career, which contains as many lows (remember the failed Robin Williams comedy drama Jack?) as well as highs. Stylistically, the film is a wonder with the visions of Megalopolis, dream sequences and literal time-stopping moments being achieved with the same visual flair that distinguished the likes of Bram Stoker’s Dracula from the other multiplex fare of 1992.

Performance-wise, the film also impresses, with Driver capturing Cesar’s ambitions as well as as his personal vulnerabilities as he is haunted by the death of his wife, Plaza also nearly steals the show as the ambitious Wow who is willing to do anything to reach the top, and LaBoeuf impresses as the flamboyant and power hungry Clodio. However, it’s Emmanuel who surprises the most, as she seamlessly handles Julia’s transition from seemingly the spoiled mayor’s daughter to the supportive inspiration of Cicero without the process appearing two-dimensional. She also gives the character a playfulness in her  intimate scenes with Driver that helps to make their relationship seem fully three-dimensional.

Megalopolis is an experience that sits with you even after it’s finished. Coppola may not always convey his intentions in the best way, but he certainly offers a unique vision far beyond what is common place in today’s cinematic landscape.

In cinemas nationwide now